Football Austria raves about its U17swhich was the first ÖFB team in one World Cup final stands. The selection of Hermann Stadlerwhich takes place on Thursday (5 p.m./live ORF 1 and Sky) plays against Portugal for the title in Doha, but also impresses neutral experts. “What Austria is showing here really impresses us. Everything fits together, like a puzzle,” explained Pascal Zuberbühler, head of the six-member technical study group of the world governing body (FIFA)im APA-Interview.
Stadler and his support team have formed a team with team spirit and mentality, coupled with outstanding individual players, a strong bench and clear tasks, says Zuberbühler, who watches and analyzes all 104 games with his team. The Swiss paid particular attention to the Austrian team, as his mother comes from Eibiswald in Styria. “You can feel with this team that there is a system behind it. It’s a huge unit, and that’s reflected in so many moments,” said the 54-year-old.
Seven games, seven wins with 17:1 goals is a fantastic interim result. “They don’t score goals, defend very well, are very conscientious and know what their position is. Their transition game is simply incredible. They have key players from the front to the goalkeeper. That’s one axis, that’s how you can win a tournament,” analyzed Zuberbühler. After the tournament, his group of experts selects the individual winners; he noticed many talents in the red-white-red team. “If you do that (Johannes) Moser Look at what he can do, he’s an exceptional talent. (Vasilije) Markovic It’s crazy how he took control of the game against Italy, everything was in order. He is a fighter, a model athlete. Then the defense chief is missing (Ifeanyi Ndukwe)which is outstanding, and I see Humble – what a mentality. Here I am, we win. There is a character, a mentality behind it,” enthused the Swiss and also named Hasan Deshishku and Nicolas Jozepovic.
The incredible goalie
And last but not least, goalkeeper Daniel Poschwho has been closely watched by the Swiss team’s long-time team goalkeeper and is also highly praised. “His statistics in this tournament are unbelievable. Play a tournament and you don’t concede a goal, that’s just wow! He didn’t have many actions to clean up, but he was there when you needed him. His qualities are goal defense, that’s the most important thing. He has very good positional play,” said the former Germany and England legionnaire.
But his gaze continues all the way to the substitutes’ bench. That Austria’s team has failures like that of the suspended Ndukwe or regular striker Dominik Dobis was able to compensate with a torn cruciate ligament and decided most of the games in the second half, speaks for a large and balanced squad. “It’s nice to see how important the substitutes’ bench is in a tournament. It’s the impact of the players who come in. They continue to play at the same level, everyone knows what to do. That’s the quality of the coach and his staff,” said Zuberbühler.
Austria plays adult
The FIFA expert sees the Austrians as an advantage because many of the talents have already gained experience in the second division and thus in adult football. “The Italians have a very good team, but the Austrians manage to eliminate this team by only allowing them one or two chances. It’s very clear that the players know how to play. They don’t have the match practice with the juniors or the U21s, you can feel that they are on the pitch against older players.” It will now be important to push this development further. “Austria is a model country for what you are currently doing,” Zuberbühler is convinced.
Whether Moser and Co. come back as world champions or runner-up will be decided on Thursday. Making a forecast is difficult. A lot will depend on mental strength. “A final has its own rules. Maybe the opponent is the better team on paper, but if you have the better mentality, you have a chance. Then the head comes into play, at a World Cup in a final,” emphasized Zuberbühler. “It may be a tactical final. Austria’s strength is the transition game, but they have to be careful not to get too deep. Portugal also has to be careful because if Austria takes a 1-0 lead, then good night.”
Big burden
Zuberbühler doesn’t believe in a particularly intense game, even though he highly praises the fitness of the players. Eight games in 22 days is a very big burden for U17 players. “In the group phase, our analysis showed: high speed, pressing, high attacking. In the knockout phase you could feel that the players were slowly getting tired,” revealed the head of the technical study group.